Hot water supply apparatus and method of controlling the same

This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0150285, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 11, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a hot water supply apparatus and a method of controlling the same.

In general, a hot water supply apparatus is an apparatus that heats cold water to a predetermined temperature and supplies the heated water so that a user may conveniently use hot water.

This hot water supply apparatus shortens a time for which the hot water reaches a target temperature by performing a turbo hot water function to supply the hot water corresponding to the target temperature within a short period of time after the user opens a faucet.

When the turbo hot water function is controlled, the hot water supply apparatus detects a change in a flow rate of the hot water when the user opens the faucet and uses the hot water. In this case, when the detected change in the flow rate of the hot water is maintained for a predetermined period of time, for example, five seconds, a circulation pump is operated to increase the flow rate of the hot water.

In a hot water supply apparatus according to the related art, when the supply of the hot water is stopped by temporarily turning off the faucet because the user uses soap, the pump stops operating, the hot water function is terminated, and thus a temperature of the hot water decreases. Thus, when the user opens the faucet to use the hot water again within a predetermined time, the hot water supply apparatus detects the change in the flow rate of the hot water again, and when the detected change in the flow rate of the hot water is maintained for, for example, five seconds, the circulation pump is operated to increase the flow rate of the hot water and thus supplies the hot water to the user.

However, even when the user stops using of the hot water for a short period of time, a time is taken for which the temperature of the hot water supplied when the hot water is used next reaches the target temperature.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art while advantages achieved by the prior art are maintained intact.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a hot water supply apparatus in which, when use of hot water is stopped in a state in which the hot water supply apparatus is set to a turbo hot water function, operation of a pump is not immediately stopped, a pump operating state is maintained during a reference time, and thus when the hot water is reused within the reference time, a temperature of the existing hot water is maintained, and a method of controlling the same.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a hot water supply apparatus in which a flow rate of a direct water supply line is confirmed in real time while the hot water is used in a state in which the hot water supply apparatus is set to the turbo hot water function, and when a difference between an instantaneous decrease flow rate of the direct water supply line and a reference average flow rate value is greater than or equal to a reference value, it is determined that the use of the hot water is stopped, and thus unnecessary preheating is prevented from continuing, and a method of controlling the same.

The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned problems, and any other technical problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood from the following description by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a hot water supply apparatus includes a pump that applies a pressure to a direct water supply line connected to a heat exchanger to supply direct water or hot water to the heat exchanger, a flow rate sensor that measures a flow rate of the direct water or the hot water flowing through the direct water supply line, and a controller that maintains an operating state of the pump during a reference time and confirms a change in a flow rate of the direct water supply line through the flow rate sensor when use of the hot water is stopped while the hot water is used in a state in which the pump is in operation.

In an embodiment, the controller may determine that the use of the hot water is stopped when the flow rate confirmed through the flow rate sensor decreases by a preset reference amount or more.

In an embodiment, the controller may monitor the flow rate measured by the flow rate sensor every time while the hot water is used in a state in which the pump is in operation and determine whether a hot water use stopping condition is satisfied.

In an embodiment, the controller may compare an instantaneous decrease flow rate confirmed through the flow rate sensor with a reference average flow rate value and determine that the hot water use stopping condition is satisfied when a difference value therebetween is greater than or equal to a preset reference value.

In an embodiment, the controller may confirm an average flow rate value for previous time T whenever time T elapses and define, as the reference average flow rate value, a larger value of two recently confirmed average flow rate values based on a time point at which the instantaneous decrease flow rate is confirmed.

In an embodiment, the controller may stop the operation of the pump when the flow rate confirmed through the flow rate sensor does not increase to a preset reference amount or more until the reference time elapses after the use of the hot water is stopped.

In an embodiment, the controller may determine that the hot water supply apparatus is in a hot water reuse state when the flow rate confirmed through the flow rate sensor increases to a preset reference amount or more before the reference time elapses after the use of the hot water is stopped.

In an embodiment, the hot water supply apparatus may further include a direct water temperature sensor that is disposed in the direct water supply line and measures a temperature of the direct water or the hot water flowing through the direct water supply line.

In an embodiment, the controller may stop the operation of the pump when it is confirmed that the temperature of the direct water or the hot water confirmed by the direct water temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature.

The controller may operate the hot water supply apparatus in a turbo hot water mode when the flow rate confirmed by the flow rate sensor increases to a preset reference amount or more in a state in which a turbo hot water function is set to an ON state.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a hot water supply apparatus includes applying, by a pump, a pressure to a direct water supply line connected to a heat exchanger to supply direct water or hot water to the heat exchanger, measuring, by a flow rate sensor, a flow rate of the direct water or the hot water flowing through the direct water supply line, and confirming a change in the flow rate of the direct water supply line through the flow rate sensor while an operating state of the pump is maintained during a reference time when use of the hot water is stopped while the hot water is used in a state in which the pump is in operation.

In an embodiment, the confirming of the change in the flow rate may include determining that the use of the hot water is stopped when the flow rate confirmed through the flow rate sensor decreases by a preset reference amount or more.

In an embodiment, the method may further include monitoring the flow rate measured by the flow rate sensor every time until the reference time elapses while the hot water is used in a state in which the pump is in operation, and determining whether a hot water use stopping condition is satisfied based on the flow rate confirmed from the flow rate sensor.

In an embodiment, the determining of whether the hot water use stopping condition is satisfied may include confirming an average flow rate value for previous time T whenever time T elapses, defining, as a reference average flow rate value, a larger value of two recently confirmed average flow rate values based on a time point at which an instantaneous decrease flow rate is confirmed when the flow rate decreases, and comparing the instantaneous decrease flow rate with the reference average flow rate value and determining that the hot water use stopping condition is satisfied when a difference value therebetween is greater than or equal to a preset reference value.

In an embodiment, the method may further include stopping the operation of the pump when the flow rate confirmed through the flow rate sensor does not increase to a preset reference amount or more until the reference time elapses after the use of the hot water is stopped.

In an embodiment, the method may further include determining that the hot water supply apparatus is in a hot water reuse state when the flow rate confirmed through the flow rate sensor increases to a preset reference amount or more before the reference time elapses after the use of the hot water is stopped.

In an embodiment, the method may further include measuring a temperature of the direct water or the hot water flowing through the direct water supply line using a direct water temperature sensor disposed in the direct water supply line.

In an embodiment, the method may further include stopping the operation of the pump when it is confirmed that the temperature of the direct water or the hot water confirmed by the direct water temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature.

In an embodiment, the method may further include operating the hot water supply apparatus in a turbo hot water mode when the flow rate confirmed by the flow rate sensor increases to a preset reference amount or more in a state in which a turbo hot water function is set to an ON state.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to components of each drawing, it should be noted that identical or equivalent components are designated by an identical numeral even when they are displayed on other drawings. Further, in describing the embodiment of the present disclosure, a detailed description of the related known configuration or function will be omitted when it is determined that it interferes with the understanding of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

In describing the components of the embodiment according to the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used. These terms are merely intended to distinguish one component from other components, and the terms do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components. Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

is a view illustrating a hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andis a view illustrating a control structure of the hot water supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, referring to, a hot water supply apparatusmay correspond to an electric boiler or a water heater that stores and heats water.

Accordingly, the hot water supply apparatusmay include a heat exchanger, a direct water temperature sensor, a pump, a flow rate sensor, and a hot water temperature sensor.

Further, the hot water supply apparatusmay further include a controllerthat performs overall functions related to supply of hot water. The controllermay control operations of the heat exchanger, the direct water temperature sensor, the pump, the flow rate sensor, and the hot water temperature sensor. Here, the controllermay be a hardware device such as a processor or a central processing unit (CPU) or a program implemented by the processor.

The heat exchangermay generate the hot water from direct water having the room temperature supplied through a direct water supply line by exchanging heat with the direct water and may discharge the generated hot water to a hot water discharge line.

The direct water temperature sensor, which is a sensor for measuring a temperature of the direct water or the hot water supplied to the heat exchanger, may be provided in the direct water supply line.

Further, the pumpmay be further provided in the direct water supply line. The pumpserves to increase a flow rate of the direct water flowing into the heat exchangerby applying a pressure to the direct water supply line. Further, the pumpserves to supply the hot water remaining in the hot water discharge line back to the heat exchanger. In this case, when the hot water flows into the direct water supply line, the pumpsupplies the hot water flowing into the direct water supply line to the heat exchangerso that the hot water recirculates. In this case, as the hot water recirculates, the direct water or hot water flowing into the heat exchangerthrough the direct water supply line may be preheated.

A line for recirculation of the hot water remaining in the hot water discharge line may be separately provided between the direct water supply line and the hot water discharge line.

The flow rate sensoris a sensor for measuring the flow rate of the direct water or the hot water flowing through the direct water supply line. The flow rate sensormay continuously measure the flow rate of the direct water or the hot water flowing through the direct water supply line in predetermined time units while the hot water supply apparatusoperates in a hot water mode. As an example, the flow rate sensormay measure the flow rate of the direct water supply line every second.

In this case, the flow rate sensortransmits information on the measured flow rate of the direct water supply line to the controller. Thus, the controllermay control a hot water supply operation while confirming the flow rate of the direct water supply line transmitted from the flow rate sensorin real time.

Further, the hot water temperature sensorfor measuring a temperature of the discharged hot water may be further provided in the hot water discharge line.

The embodiment ofis referenced as a specific situation in which the controllercontrols the hot water supply operation.

Referring to, when a hot water switch is operated by the user, the controllersets a hot water function to an ON state. Further, when a turbo hot water switch is operated by the user, the controllermay set a turbo hot water function to an ON state. The turbo hot water function refers to a function of driving the pumpto increase the flow rate by a certain amount so as to supply the hot water within a short time. According to the embodiment, the turbo hot water function may be performed only for a predetermined time from a time point when the corresponding function is turned on.

In the hot water supply apparatus, in a state in which the hot water function (or the turbo hot water function) is set to the ON state, when the faucet is opened by the user and thus a current state is switched to a hot water usage state, as the hot water is discharged to the faucet through the hot water discharge line, the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensorprovided in the direct water supply line increases.

Accordingly, the controllerallows the hot water supply apparatusto operate in the hot water mode when the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensorincreases to a certain amount or more, for example, a first reference amount or more. In this case, the controllercontrols operations of a heater, the heat exchanger, the pump, and sensors to supply hot water. Thus, the hot water may be generated by the heat exchanger, and in this case, the generated hot water may be supplied through the hot water discharge line.

When the turbo hot water function is set to the ON state, the controllerallows the hot water supply apparatusto operate in a turbo hot water mode when the supply of the hot water is maintained for a predetermined time or more. In this case, the controlleroperates the pumpto increase the flow rate supplied to the heat exchanger, so that a large amount of hot water may be supplied in a short period of time.

The controllerconfirms whether the flow rate of the direct water supply line decreases while continuously confirming a measured value of the flow rate sensorwhile the hot water is used with the pumpoperating in the turbo hot water mode. In this case, when the flow rate of the direct water supply line confirmed while the hot water is used decreases by a second reference amount or more, the controllermay determine that the use of the hot water is stopped.

When the use of the hot water is stopped in a state in which the pumpis in operation, the controllermaintains the pumpfor circulation of the hot water in an operating state for a reference time to maintain the temperature of the hot water when the hot water supply apparatusis switched to a hot water reuse state within a predetermined time.